➤ Is UPMC changing plans?
Yes, partly. UPMC for Life is continuing for 2027, but some of its plans are being discontinued while a new HMO Preferred Rx plan is added in Butler, Clarion and Westmoreland counties. Your Annual Notice of Change will show whether your own plan is affected.
➤ What if my Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage plan is ending?
You remain covered through December 31, 2026, and your insurer must send a non-renewal notice. Pennsylvanians in that spot get a Special Enrollment Period to choose another plan and a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans, generally within 63 days after the old coverage ends.
➤ When can I change my Pennsylvania Medicare plan for 2027?
Pennsylvania follows the national calendar, so Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, with new coverage on January 1, 2027. If you are in Medicare Advantage, a second chance to make one change runs from January 1 to March 31, 2027.
➤ Is Highmark changing its Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania for 2027?
No 2027 Highmark changes have been verified. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves western and northeastern Pennsylvania, while Highmark Blue Shield serves central and southeastern Pennsylvania, so read your Annual Notice of Change for the details of your specific plan.
➤ Is Geisinger Gold still available in Pennsylvania for 2027?
Geisinger Gold is continuing, with no verified 2027 change reported. Plan details, networks and costs can still shift from year to year, so check your Annual Notice of Change and confirm availability in your county.
➤ Where can I get free Medicare help in Pennsylvania?
PA MEDI, Pennsylvania’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, offers free, unbiased counseling to people with Medicare. Counselors can walk you through Highmark, UPMC, Geisinger and national insurer plans offered in your county and help you weigh Medicare Advantage against Medigap.
➤ Are national insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania?
Availability varies by county. UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna are each trimming some counties nationally for 2027, and county-level details for Pennsylvania should not be assumed, so confirm by ZIP code which national plans are still offered where you live.
➤ Do Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage plans include dental and vision?
Some may. Pennsylvania plans may include dental, vision, hearing or fitness extras, which Original Medicare does not cover on a routine basis, but not all plans offer all benefits and amounts differ. Check each plan’s Summary of Benefits before you choose.
➤ Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in Pennsylvania?
You can apply, but approval may not be automatic. Outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period or a guaranteed issue right, insurers in most states can use health questions, so check Pennsylvania’s rules with PA MEDI before you drop a plan.